Rail-joint.



L. MUELLER.

RAIL JOINT. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1910.

Patented Mar.5, 1912.

IIIIIIIIIIIII Elnumtnr Amman.

LOUIS MUELLER, OF OWOSSO, MICHIGAN.

RAIL-JOINT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1912.

Application filed September 8, 1910. Serial No. 580,988.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LOUIS MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owosso, in the county of Shiawassee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Joints; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to rail joints, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out particularly in the claim.

The object of the invention is to provide efficient and comparatively inexpensive means for connecting the abutting ends of railway rails in a manner to prevent both lateral and vertical displacement and afford ample support for the rail ends.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an enlarged cross section through a rail and the splice bars, as on line 11 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a similar view as on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the rail joint embodying my invent-ion. Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the tie plate. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the splice bars. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the other of the splice bars. Fig. 8 is a cross section of the tie plate, as on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring to the characters ofreference, 1 designates the ordinary rail ties. Supported at its ends upon said ties and extending between two of them is the tie plate 2. Said tie plate is provided at each end with the raised shoulders 3 between which the margins of the base 4: of the rails'5 are confined to prevent relative lateral movement between the rail and plate. The splice bars comprise the bars 6 and 7 adapted to embrace the opposite sides of the rails at the joint. Said splice bars are angular in cross section, their upper edges being adapted to fit under the head of the rails and their lower portions to lie upon the base flanges thereof. Each of said splice bars is provided with a marginal flange 8 extending longitudinally thereof which embraces the margin of the tie plate and has an inwardly extending lip 9 which engages the bottom of said plate along the edge thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each of the flanges 8 of the splice bars is provided at the central portion thereof with a depending boss 10 through which is formed a transverse aperture 11, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 adapted to receive the transverse bolt 12 which passes therethrough and receives on its threaded end a nut 13. By means of the transverse bolt 12 the bases of the splice bars at the center of the joint may be drawn firmly together upon the tie plate.

The parts are so proportioned, that, when the splice bars are in position upon opposite sides of the abutting ends of the rails, the ends of the flanges 8 of said bars will lie in terminal engagement with the inner ends 14 of the raised shoulders 3 on the tie plate, thereby affording a firm brace to prevent the springing down of said. plate at its center. Passing transversely through the splice bars and through the web of the rail are the usual bolts 15.

To prevent lateral displacement of the tie plate, it may be secured at its ends by the spikes 16, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. To assist in holding the tie plate against longitudinal shifting, it is provided on its under side with lugs 17 shown more clearly in Fig. 8, which engage the margins of the ties.

The character of this joint is such as to enable the tie plate to be slipped under the rails and the splice bars to be placed in position from opposite sides without requiring the separation of the ends of the rails or the removal of a rail section.

By means of this improved rail joint, the abutting ends of the rails may be securely spliced and held against vertical and lateral displacement while the character of the splice bars is such as to provide for the free passage of the wave movement of the rail through the joint.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a rail joint, the combination with the meeting ends of the rails, of a tie plate on which the rails rest and which crosses beneath said joint, the ends of said plate having longitudinally extending projecting shoulders, splice bars upon opposite sides of the rails and crossing the oint between the ends thereof, said bars having narrow terminals which lie between the longitudinal faces of the shoulders of the tie plate and the web of the rail, and having flanges at the center which embrace the opposite margins of the tie plate, the ends of said flanges having terminal engagement with the inner ends of the shoulders on said plate, a transverse bolt connecting the flanges of the splice bars below the tie plate, and means for securing the splice bars in position across the rail joint.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

, LOUIS MUELLER. Witnesses:

O. B. BAENZIGER,

I. G. HOWLE'IT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

